Chris Barnett just wants to work. So why will no one fight him?

Heavyweight MMA fighter Chris Barnett has high aspirations for his career in the sport. But in order to achieve those aspirations, he needs to fight – something that has becoming increasingly difficult as time wears on.

According to Barnett, he can’t get fights against anyone, anywhere, for any price. From local shows on the regional circuit that pay nickels and dimes to any top-tier organizations around the globe, “Beast Boy” can’t find anyone willing to promote one of his fights or step in the cage as an opponent.

It’s a frustrating situation for someone who has only two fights in the past three years. Why won’t anyone fight Barnett? From his perspective, it’s because he’s too dangerous and provides little upside for an opponent.

“Not to toot my own horn, but I think it’s the factor that I’m a tough riddle to solve,” Barnett told MMAjunkie of his difficulty finding fights. “Guys won’t fight me with four weeks’ of notice or even six weeks’. If they don’t get a solid camp in, they won’t want to fight me.

“You take me to the ground, I’m decent there. Standup, I’m decent. I’m a jack-of-all-trades. Instead of being a king in one certain thing, I can do it all. So them trying to get ready for me, they realize they can’t knock me out or take me down. I’m not going to say they’re scared, but on their behalf it’s better to actually not fight me.”

Barnett has only lost one fight, and that came in 2010 against Bellator MMA veteran Eric Prindle. The 28-year-old has finished all but two of his professional wins by knockout and is a creative fighter in action.

Currently a free agent without attachment to any organization, Barnett wants to take his career to the next level by fighting more frequently and gaining notoriety in the MMA community.

While Barnett’s main goal is just to get a fight, his dream situation would be to compete overseas in Japan. Barnett wants to become an international superstar in MMA, and he refers to Bob Sapp as an inspiration.

Obviously Barnett doesn’t want to engage in potentially fixed fights as Sapp did throughout his career, especially in the latter half, he just wants the same level of stardom.

“I was looking at Bob Sapp and how he is and who he is as a person,” Barnett said. “Toward the middle part and end of his career, he was a big name over in Japan and people loved him. They made dildos after this guy, toys and all that stuff. If he goes to Japan he’s an icon. To fight in Japan and actually win over in Japan would make it that much better.

“He could lose a fight over there and they would still love him and who he is. He’s a character and that’s what I am at the end of the day. Give me a reality TV show and I promise I’ll be number one in about a week.”

While Barnett comes across as someone who is more interested in fame than becoming an elite fighter, he thinks there’s room for both. He believes his personality and look fit the mold on the entertainment side of the sport that is embraced in Japan, but as his record shows, he can fight, as well.

Barnett has spent time training at the Florida-based Blackzilians camp alongside a legion of UFC fighters like former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans. While he’s typically brought in to mirror the fighting style of someone else’s upcoming opponent, Barnett says training as a high-level camp made him realize his capabilities.

“When I went down there it was like being a kid in a candy shop,” Barnett said. “Alistair Overeem kneed me in the chest. It was the greatest. After a while, I realize I’m doing good against those guys. A little more time and practice makes me feel like there’s no reason I can’t be at that level. It’s a huge confidence booster.”

Barnett owns a fan-friendly fighting style, too. Pushing the far end of the heavyweight limit, few would expect Barnett’s athleticism to be at a high level. That’s not the case at all, though, as Barnett is prone to attempting wild, high-risk techniques on the feet and ground.

“I call it ‘don’t blink,'” Barnett said of his fighting style. “At any point I might throw a 360 tornado kick, a spinning hook kick, a spinning backfist. Every time I train I like to learn something new. I play a lot of video games, so if I see it in the game there’s no reason I can’t do it. If someone else can do it I can do it.”

Barnett stopped short of admitting he’d like to take his career the “freak show” route, but his future plans make his intentions quite clear. When asked who his dream opponent would be, Barnett called out someone who is notorious for fighting larger opponents, but ultimately would do nothing to progress his career in a meaningful way.

“I’d love to fight (Ikuhisa) ‘Minowaman’ (Minowa),” Barnett said. “He’s the same mindset. He’ll fight anybody. To me it would be a true test because he can take a punch, he’s good on the ground. If I get a chance I’d love to fight him.”

As Barnett waits for his phone to ring and some form of fight offer to come through, he keeps busy working a full-time job at Lowe’s. When asked if he views himself as capable of one day making it to the UFC, Barnett thinks he could join the organization right now and immediate make noise. If it never happens, though, he won’t sweat it.

According to Barnett, many others in the sport have been plenty successful without the support of the UFC, and he can be the next to do so.

“I definitely feel I could easily be on the level of a UFC fighter, but then again you have guys who aren’t in the UFC who are really good,” Barnett said. “Fedor (Emelianenko) never went to the UFC and he’s still an icon. That’s the type of goal I want. If I never make it to the UFC, I want that Fedor-Bob Sapp type of following and career.

“My overall goal is just to be out there. I want to be noticed to the point where people say, ‘Chris Barnett is fighting, let’s turn everything off and watch Chris fight tonight.’ I want that notoriety.”

Barnett will never gain that notoriety for himself if he doesn’t fight, and right now he’s available to compete for any organization – big or small – regardless of its location around the globe.

He feels he can be a viable addition to every promotion, and if given the opportunity, he won’t make anyone regret acquiring his services.

“If you want to put the fans in the stands, the ‘Beast Boy’ is your man,” Barnett said. “Any promotion or promoter, let me know. I’m not going to destroy your checkbook. I want to go out there for the fans. To entertain. I’ll bring fans to you. I actually fight. I’m not out there to lay-and-pray or nothing like that. I’m out there to get the ‘W’ and to entertain the fans.

“There’s so many fighters out there that are worried about a record. You see them go out there and fight a guy who is 0-5. I’m 9-1, why would I go out there and fight an 0-5 guy? I want to go out there and prove that I’m the best. Any promotions or organizations that are out there that want it can get it. Let me know. Contact me. I’m available. Bring it.”

As the UFC 189 tour made its last stop in Dublin, featherweight champ Jose Aldo was met with a torrent of abuse from the Irish fans. It might have been unpleasant, but it might also have been just what he needed.